Portable self-track-laying apparatus.



No. 830,851. PATENTED SEPT. 11, 1906.

E. 0. ROOD.

PORTABLESELF TRACK LAYING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 25, 1905.

2 SHEETSSHEBT 1.

PORTABLE SELF E. 0. HOOD. TRACK LAYING APPARATUS.

PATENTED SEPT. 11, 1906.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 25. 1905.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

5y Y digits UNITED STATES PATENT. OFFICE.

, EDWIN O. ROOD, OF BRITT, IOWA, ASSIGNOR TO THE INTERSTATE DRAINAGE & INVESTMENT COMPANY, OF BRI TT, IOWA, A COR- PORATION or IOWA.

PORTABLE SELF-TRACK-LAYING APPARATUS.

Patented Sept. 11, 1906.

Application filed May 26, 1905- Serial No. 262,139.

county of Hancock, State of Iowa, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Portable Self-Track-Laying -Appa ratus; and I declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompany ing drawings, which form apart of this specification.

My invention relates in general to self-propelled apparatus, and more particularly to mechanism for automatically laying a track and coincidentally moving the apparatus over the same.

In the operation of excavating and ditching apparatus as heretofore constructed it is necessary to lay a track over which the apparatus is propelled as the work of digging progre'sses.

The primary object of my invention is to provide a portable a paratus which will not require the laying o a track re aratory to moving the apparatus, but whi h will automatically lay its own track as it travels along.

'A further object of my invention is to provide a self-propelling excavating apI liaratus the supporting structure of which W1 travel along an endless track carried by the apparatus. A

A still further object of my invention is to provide an apparatus of the character described which will be simple in construction, inexpensive in manufacture, and efficient in use.

The embodiment of my invention herein disclosedmay be generall discribed as comprising a platform upon w ch is mounted the machinery for performing the work of the a Y aratus and also-for r0 elling the same, si e ames upon which t e p atform is supported, endless tracks surrounding and supporting the side frames over which the side frames are propelled, an anchor adapted to be detachably secured to each track adjacent to the forward end thereof, a drum carried b each side frame, a flexible connection exten ing from each anchor to the drum of the cor- V responding side frame, and means for rotating said drums'to wind thereon the flexible connections leading from the anchors, and thereby move the said frames relatively to their supporting-tracks.

My invention will be more hereinafter with reference to the accompanying, drawings, in which the same is illustrated as embodied in a convenient and practical form, and in which Figure 1 is a plan view; Fig. 2, a sectional fully described- View on line 2 2, Fig. 1; Fig. 3, a cross-sec-,

tional view on line 3 3, Fig. 2; and Fig. 4a plan view of the under side of the anchor.

The same reference characters are used to designate the same parts in the several figures of the drawings.

Reference-letter A indicates a platform upon which is supported the mechanism for performing the work of the apparatus and also for propelling the same. The platform is supported upon horizontal beams a, the ends of the latter being secured to side frames around which extend flexible endless tracks.

C and C indicate the endless tracks around the side frames, which are of similar construction.

Each side frame is composed of parallel sections B and B the ends of which are curved and around which extend I-beams b and b The ends of the beams a),which support the platform A, preferably extend through both sections of each side frame, as indicated in Fig. 3, thereby rigidly securing the side frames in the desired relation with respect to each other. The endless track, which surrounds each of the side frames, is composed of a plurality of transverse sections 0, pivotally connected together. Each section of the track is provided with an axle D, the ends of which are supported in brackets c a, projecting from the ends of the section. Brackets c 0 also project from each section of the track and are spaced apart from the brackets c c a distanceto receive rollers d and d,

which are supported upon each axle-D. The

rollers d and d engage within the flanges of the I-beams b and b so as to beguided around the peripheries of the sections B" and B of the respective side frames. The axles D of ad'acent sections 0 of each track are consecured oppositely-projecting pairs of hooks G and G The inner ends of the hooks are pivoted upon rods 9 and 9 extending transversely with respect to the block G.' The hooks are of a size and shape to surround the 5 axles D of the sections of the track. Aflexible connection, such .as a cable F, extending from a bracket 9 fixed to one end of theblock G, passes around a guide-pulley a, supported upon an axle E the ends of 1a which are secured to the sections B and B. The cable F extends-from the pulley e to a drum e, around which it is wound a number of times, and'thence extends around a pulley e, supported upon an axle E, the latter being secured at its ends to the section's B and B The cable after passing around the pulley e is 'secured to a bracket g, fixed to the o posite end of the block G to that at which t 1e bracket 9 is located.

The drums e in the respective side frames of the apparatus may be simultaneously rotated in either direction by any suitable mechanism, the engine for performing the:

work of the apparatus being, however, preferably also utilized for rotating the drums.

Referring more particularly to Fig. 1, H indicates a boiler for supplying steam to a pair of engines H and H .The engines'are connected to an engine-shaft K, on which is fixed I a pinion 7c, meshing with a gear I, fixed upon a counter-shaft L. A pinion Z is fixed upon the counter-shaft and meshes with a gear m, fixed u on a shaft M. The shaft M is pri-' marily or performing the work of the. appa- 3 5 ratus, and for such purpose drums O and O are fixed thereon, which serve as hoistingdrums when the apparatus is for use in excavating or digging dltches. Loosely mounted u on the s aft M 'are pinions M and M 40 w 'ch mesh with the ears p and 19 the latter. being fixed upon t e respective shafts P and P To the shafts P and P are fixed the drivin -drums e, journaled within the respective si e frames of the a paratus. In order that either one or both 0 the drums e may be rotated, suitable clutch mechanism is provided for locking either or both of the pinions M and M to the shaft M. Such clutch mechanism is indicated by m and m and consists of clutches splined upon the shaft M. In or-' "GQ ward the left in Figs. 1- and 2, t e anchor consisting of the block G and hooks pivoted thereto, is located in the position shown in Fig. 2, with the pair of hooks'G in enga el ment with the axle of the first section b of t e 65, track, which rests upon the ground. 7 When anchors, the engines are stopped and the anit is desired to propel the apparatus straight ahead, the anchors within both side frames are located in theposition described. The

pinions M and M are then clutched to the shaft M and the engine drivenin a direction to rotate the drums e to wind the cables F thereon as the cables pass from the'pulleys e The engagement of the cable F'around the pulley e causes the latter, and with it the supporting side frame of the apparatus, to be drawn toward the anchor, thereby moving the apparatus toward the left. As the apparatus moves the sections of track at the left successively rest upon the ground and support the side frame as it moves along. When the apparatus has been moved such a distance that the ulleys e in the side frames have a proached? nearly to the adjacent ends of t e chors moved forward relatively to the corresponding tracks and the hooks thereon engaged' with the axles of the first sections of the track at the left, which rest upon the ground. The engines are again started and the side frames of the apparatus again moved over the endless tracks surrounding the same. When it is desired to propel the apparatus in an opposite direction, the hooks G: are engaged with the axles of the first sections at the right, which rest upon the ground, and the direction of the engine is reversed. It is obvious that the apparatus may be propelled in acurved path when desired by merely rotating the drum of one of the side sections. My improved apparatus may also 1o be operated with a less degree of efliciency by fastening the cable attached to the windingdrum to the upper instead of the lower sections of the track and drawin the section so attached toward the drum, an with it the following sections, until it is nearly opposite the drum, when the cable is detached from such section and attached to the rear section, when the operation is repeated. In such operation of my apparatus the cable is attached to' the II rear upper section of track and as it is drawn toward the drum, and the en a ement ofthe track with the curved ends oft e sections of the side frame forces the frame over the sections of track as they are successively laid II upon the ound. In this operation of my apparatus 1t is obvious that,the guide-pulleys e and e need not be used.

From the foregoing description it will be observed that I have invented an improved selfrepelled apparatus which lays its own trac as it travels along, thereby obviati the necessity ofsupporting tracks being la id in advance of the apparatus preparatory to pro elling the same.

aving now fully described my invention,

what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination with a portable apparatus, of a flexible track upon which the appa- 13 ratus is supported, of an anchor adapted to be secured to said track, a connection leading -from said anchor to a point on said apparatus, and power means operatively engaging said connection for moving said apparatus relativelyto said track in either direction.

2. The combination with a portable apparatus, of a flexible track carried by and supporting said apparatus, a drum carried by said apparatus, a flexible connection operatively connected to said drum, an anchor to which said flexible connection is secured,.

adapted to be detachably connected to said track, and means for rotating said drum in either direction to wind said connection thereon and thereby move said apparatus relatively to said track in the desired direction.

3. The combination with a portable apparatus, of aflexible track carried by and supporting said apparatus, a guide-pulley lo- 'cated near each end of said apparatus, a drum journaled on said apparatus, means for rotating said drum in either direction, a cable passing around said pulleys and en aging said drum, and means for securing sai cable to said track at points intermediate between said pulleys.

4. The combinationwith a portable apparatus, of a flexible track carried by and supporting said apparatus, a drum carried by said apparatus, guide-pulleys located near the ends of said apparatus, an anchor adapted to be detachably secured to'said track, a cable secured at its ends to the opposite sides of said anchor, thence passing around said pulleys and operatively engaging said drum, and means for rotating said drum in either direction.

'In testimony whereof I sign this specification in the presence of two Witnesses.

EDWIN OKROOD. Witnesses:

JOHN HAMMILL, W. L. BLIss. 

